Skip to comments.
Offensive trademarks are OK in US (Redskins relevant)
Yahoo News ^
| December 22, 2015
| Staff
Posted on 12/22/2015 9:56:14 AM PST by abb
A US appeals court has struck down a provision of a federal law that barred the registration of offensive trademarks because it violates the First Amendment of the US Constitution.
The decision on Tuesday by the US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit in Washington, DC, vacates the refusal by the US Patent and Trademark Office to register the name of the Asian-American rock band, The Slants.
It could also affect the decision by the agency to cancel the trademarks of the National Football League's Washington Redskins.
"We recognise that invalidating this provision may lead to the wider registration of marks that offend vulnerable communities," Circuit Judge Kimberly Moore said in the opinion on behalf of the 12 judges who took part in hearing the case.
"Whatever our personal feelings about the mark at issue here, or other disparaging marks, the First Amendment forbids government regulators to deny registration because they find the speech likely to offend others."
snip
(Excerpt) Read more at au.news.yahoo.com ...
TOPICS: Business/Economy; Extended News; Government; News/Current Events; US: District of Columbia
KEYWORDS: courts; districtofcolumbia; kimberlymoore; nfl; redskins; slants; trademark; washingtonredskins
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20, 21-37 last
To: AdmSmith; AnonymousConservative; Berosus; bigheadfred; Bockscar; cardinal4; ColdOne; ...
A US appeals court has struck down a provision of a federal law that barred the registration of offensive trademarks because it violates the First Amendment of the US Constitution... vacates the refusal by the US Patent and Trademark Office to register the name of the Asian-American rock band, The Slants. It could also affect the decision by the agency to cancel the trademarks of the National Football League's Washington Redskins.
Dang. There goes my 1970s-era idea for an Asian band from Detroit calling itself the Slant Six.
21
posted on
12/22/2015 1:13:13 PM PST
by
SunkenCiv
(Here's to the day the forensics people scrape what's left of Putin off the ceiling of his limo.)
"Whatever our personal feelings about the mark at issue here, or other disparaging marks, the First Amendment forbids government regulators to deny registration because they find the speech likely to offend others."
22
posted on
12/22/2015 1:14:53 PM PST
by
SunkenCiv
(Here's to the day the forensics people scrape what's left of Putin off the ceiling of his limo.)
To: abb
Hail to the Redskins!!!
23
posted on
12/22/2015 1:18:18 PM PST
by
NorthMountain
("The time has come", the Walrus said, "to talk of many things")
To: NorthMountain
Folks will notice that the offensive and inaccurate word “washington” is missing from the above graphic.
24
posted on
12/22/2015 1:19:58 PM PST
by
NorthMountain
("The time has come", the Walrus said, "to talk of many things")
To: NorthMountain
Folks will notice that the offensive and inaccurate word “washington†is missing from the above graphic. You joke, but considering that George Washington owned slaves, they will eventually move to rename "Washington DC."
25
posted on
12/22/2015 1:21:36 PM PST
by
dfwgator
To: dfwgator
Yeah ... The racist left will want to rename it “Kunta Kinte City” ... and if you object, you’re racist.
26
posted on
12/22/2015 1:24:01 PM PST
by
NorthMountain
("The time has come", the Walrus said, "to talk of many things")
To: NorthMountain
They’ll probably name it “Barry DC” after Marion Barry.
27
posted on
12/22/2015 1:31:35 PM PST
by
dfwgator
To: abb
Wonder whatever happened to JoJo and his band? Very popular in 1960's southern frat/college parties. They rocked!
Most memorable band EVER!
28
posted on
12/22/2015 1:33:31 PM PST
by
N. Theknow
(Kennedys-Can't drive, can't ski, can't fly, can't skipper a boat-But they know what's best for you.)
To: abb
29
posted on
12/22/2015 1:43:07 PM PST
by
hey Bean
To: hey Bean
To: abb
This means Aunt Jemima pancake mix will be on the grocery shelf for perpetuity. Hallelujah.
31
posted on
12/22/2015 2:27:15 PM PST
by
Brad from Tennessee
(A politician can't give you anything he hasn't first stolen from you.)
To: abb
Don’t worry the SCOTUS will fix it. /s
32
posted on
12/22/2015 2:28:21 PM PST
by
catfish1957
(I display the Confederate Battle Flag with pride in honor of my brave ancestors who fought w/ valor)
To: abb
Go.....The Slants!!
33
posted on
12/22/2015 2:30:03 PM PST
by
Osage Orange
(Many people are alive only because it's illegal to kill them.)
To: Brad from Tennessee
I will only believe this when Sambo’s Restaurant makes a comeback.
34
posted on
12/22/2015 2:30:35 PM PST
by
catfish1957
(I display the Confederate Battle Flag with pride in honor of my brave ancestors who fought w/ valor)
To: abb; Bender2; big'ol_freeper; GOPsterinMA; dfwgator; darkangel82
Suck it, libs. Roger Goodell is probably saddened.
35
posted on
12/22/2015 8:43:54 PM PST
by
Impy
(They pull a knife, you pull a gun. That's the CHICAGO WAY, and that's how you beat the rats!)
To: Impy
Makes me wish the Redskins would win the Super Bowl just to force Goodell to present the Lombardi Trophy to them.
36
posted on
12/22/2015 9:00:50 PM PST
by
dfwgator
To: Impy; big'ol_freeper
It’s only right. And yes, Rog is weeping.
37
posted on
12/22/2015 9:26:40 PM PST
by
GOPsterinMA
(I'm with Steve McQueen: I live my life for myself and answer to nobody.)
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20, 21-37 last
Disclaimer:
Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual
posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its
management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the
exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson
